Renault Symbioz vs Suzuki Vitara

What's the difference?

Are you the kind of person who doesn’t mind standing out? You like to go against the flow?

Well, if so, you might be exactly the kind of person who buys the all-new Renault Symbioz, the French brand’s new small SUV.

“It stands out in a sea of same-same SUVs,” is how Renault Australia General Manager Glen Sealey sums up the Symbioz.

The problem for Renault, is that it is a very big sea it finds itself in the middle of. The small SUV segment is the second biggest part of the local new car market in 2026, behind only mid-size SUVs and ahead of utes. 

And it is full of well-known and popular models including the best-selling Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, Hyundai Kona, GWM Haval Jolion, Jaecoo J5, Mazda CX-30, MG ZS, Toyota Corolla Cross and the list goes on. 

Certainly from a looks perspective the Symbioz stands out. But it also stands out for other reasons, such as being a bit more expensive than many of its rivals and because it is the last French brand left in the Australian market following the decline of Citroen and Peugeot. 

Sealey said he expects the Symbioz to be the best-selling Renault model in Australia, and it arrives in the middle of a major product overhaul that will see six new or updated models arrive in the span of 18 months. 

But does the Symbioz really have what it takes to stand out from the pack and win over those not afraid to try something different, or will it be lost in a vast sea of SUVs?

Now that the original Mitsubishi ASX is finally gone, the oldest small SUVs still on sale in Australia today are the Mazda CX-3 and Suzuki Vitara.

Both released in 2015, their longevity is due to a combination of good design, strong engineering, sound driving dynamics and an undefinable charm.

Given their high number of rotations around the sun, it’s also surprising that neither has received a major facelift in all this time. Clearly, their creators got it largely right early on.

Until now. The Vitara steps up with the Series III makeover, ushering in a fresh nose, larger central touchscreen and a hybrid tech upgrade for the (now-sole) turbo powertrain, among other more-minor changes.

Are these enough to keep the venerable Vitara from vulnerability?